I Do Nothing of Myself:
By Power of Ten,
“I do nothing of myself; but as my FATHER hath taught me, I speak these things”, (John 8:28).
“If another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive,” (John 5:43).
These words spake Jesus! The last time HE was here on earth, man received HIM not.
The speaker is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and HE is addressing the Pharisees and Jewish leaders, as well as the broader crowds during HIS public ministry. HIS statements come in a context of rising tension, Jesus is revealing HIS Divine identity, and the religious leaders are increasingly resistant.
When Jesus says, “I do nothing of myself,” HE is affirming HIS absolute unity with the FATHER. This is not a declaration of powerlessness, but of perfect submission and Divine oneness. HE is showing that HE acts not independently but cooperatively within the will and nature of God the FATHER.
Jesus is not minimizing HIS Divinity here; HE is illustrating that true authority flows from perfect obedience. This verse expresses the eternal Sonship relationship, HE is not a rogue prophet, but the Word made flesh, perfectly reflecting the FATHER’s will.
Here Jesus contrasts HIMSELF, sent by God with others who come in their own name, representing human ambition or false authority. And yet, HE predicts a tragic irony: the people who reject the true Messiah will welcome imposters.
The tragedy of rejected Divinity is that God was among us, and we missed HIM.
Jesus said, “I do nothing of myself”, yet the Church often does everything by itself, without waiting for God, without submitting to HIS Spirit. We must recover the posture of Christ: yielded, listening, faithful.
HE was rejected the first time HE came because HE didn’t fit their idea of a Savior. HE may be ignored again, not by the world this time, but by HIS own people, if we continue building ministries, opinions, and movements “in our own name.”
HE came not in strength, but in surrender.
HE spoke not for applause, but for the FATHER.
HE moved not by pride, but by purpose.
And we, blind to glory, missed HIM.
Yet still HE comes.
Still HE speaks.
Still HE calls.
Will we receive HIM… this time?